JAMMU, Feb 11 (1993) – Indian security forces imposed an indefinite curfew in most of Kashmir on Thursday as 14 people died in violence linked to the Moslem secessionist campaign, officials here said.
A state government spokesman said curfews had been imposed in Srinagar, Kashmir’s summer capital, and seven other towns ahead of a day of protest called for Friday by Moslem separatist groups.
Patrols were stepped up and reinforcements rushed to sensitive areas.
The separatist groups issued a joint call for a “black day” to mourn the death of Maqbool Butt, a Moslem militant hanged in New Delhi nine years ago for the murder of a senior Indian police intelligence officer.
Other state government officials said that 14 people were killed late Wednesday and Thursday in Moslem separatist violence across Kashmir, Indias only Moslem-majority state.
They said the dead included five people hanged by militants but gave no details. Nine militants were killed in gunbattles with the security forces, the officials said.
Meanwhile in New Delhi officials said India has rejected a request from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) to allow a team to tour Kashmir.
Foreign Minister Dinesh Singh told members of parliament Thursday that New Delhi had turned down visa requests from an OIC team which wanted to study the situation in Kashmir, India’s only Moslem majority state.
“We have rejected the OIC request and communicated that no visas would be given,” officials quoted Singh as saying.
Foreign ministers of OIC member states have accused India of “state-sponsored repression” in Kashmir, which is also claimed by neighbouring Pakistan.
India and Pakistan have gone to war twice over Kashmir, and Indian Defence Minister Sharad Pawar has repeated allegations that Pakistan was aiding Moslem militants in Kashmir.
Pakistan says that it only extends moral and diplomatic support to what it describes as a legitimate campaign by Kashmiris for self-determination.
